Canon City News

Hayden Pass Fire doubles in size, crews to continue fight overnight

Fire spreads to 10,000 acres

High winds on Monday caused the Hayden Pass Fire to double in size to approximately 10,000 acres. (Sarah Matott / Daily Record)

Hayden Pass Fire Update

Current as of: 7 p.m. Monday

Date of Origin: Fire reported Friday evening.

Size: Approximately 10,000 acres

Location: 20 miles southeast of Salida

Percent of Perimeter Contained: 0 percent

Cause: Lightning

Evacuations: All of CR 40 and Fox Creek subdivision are under immediate mandatory evacuation. Hayden Creek Campground and Cutty's Resort evacuated; people on CR 6 south of CR 45 are on a mandatory evacuation as of 7 a.m. Monday. People will be evacuated to the Howard Fire Department and large animals may be taken to the Chaffee County fairgrounds. CR 6 is closed west of U.S. 50.

U.S. 50 is open.

Officials will continue to focus on structure protection through the night at the Hayden Pass Fire in western Fremont County, between Texas Creek and Howard.

During a media briefing Monday, Kyle Sullivan, public information specialist for the Bureau of Land Management, confirmed the fire doubled in size to about 10,000 acres.

Huge plumes of smoke and flames were visible from the side of U.S. 50 as winds continue to increase the fire's size.

Sullivan said that crews were focusing on structure protection in the area and that two Type 1 helicopters were able to get in the air to protect Cutter's Resort from the fire.

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"The fire has grown significantly overnight and this morning," Sullivan said Monday morning but said the direction of the wind throughout the day has kept the fire from spreading into ranch land or near homes.

The Hayden Pass Fire on Sunday was predominately south and east of Hayden Pass, with a majority of the fire in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. The fire as of Monday evening is moving east to Mosher Creek.

Sullivan said crews first received a report of smoke Friday afternoon.

He said that crews had come back to the location Saturday and the smoke was gone, but then Sunday smoke reappeared and at about 2 p.m., the fire took off.

The fire was reportedly started by lightning.

Sullivan said the steep terrain and dead beetle wood also are primary factors in determining how the fight the fire.

Also, the topography of the area creates unique wind conditions that comes down through the valley and hits the mountains.

Sullivan also said that they have ordered aircraft assistance, but that it is being diverted to another fire at this time.

"Firefighter safety and public safety have been our top priority today," Sullivan said. "This fire is a complex beast. They're a lot of factors to consider."

Mike Smith with the Cañon City Fire District said that half of the trees where the fire is burning are dead, and of those trees, a number of them have fallen on the ground.

"It builds a ladder of fuel, which makes for a more intense fire situation," Smith said.

"It hasn't challenged us today," Smith said in regards to the fire's movement.

He said that crews have been arriving at their staging area in Coaldale throughout the day with more on their way.

Fire crews, including about 30 engines and more than 100 firefighters, are expected to be fighting the fire.

Smith said that one "Hot Shot" crew of 20 people also has made their way to the area, saying they are the elite of firefighter crews.

Steven Thime, head of the GOLF Task Force from El Paso County, was leading fire crews Monday morning that are here to protect structures that are being threatened by the fire.

"Gather information and think clearly and be safe. We have to do what we have to do to protect people's homes," Thime told engine bosses before they left Monday morning to work.

The crews will use foam and water to make any structures in the area retardant.

"It's going to be dynamic all day," Thime said. "We are responsible for (County Road)."

Current evacuations for the Hayden Pass Fire include everyone of CR 40 and the Fox Creek subdivision and everyone on CR 6 south of CR 5.

People evacuating can go to the Howard Fire Department, where the American Red Cross will provide food and shelter, while large animals may be taken to the Chaffee County fairgrounds.

Fremont County Sheriff Jim Beicker said at Monday's media briefing that some of the fire has reached onto private land, but where exactly has not been confirmed.

Beicker also said that there are about 15 to 20 people who have elected to not evacuate.

"For anyone in evacuation area, if you've stayed, I need to have those folks to stay on their property," Beicker said, explaining that if they decide to leave or roam the area then they will be in the way of fire crews.

The exact number of homes that are being threatened in the evacuation areas is unknown.

Sullivan urged Monday evening that anyone who is in the mandatory evacuation zone to get out immediately.

Sullivan expected that they will see the same fire behavior overnight into Tuesday.

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